TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

NEW APPOINTMENTS AT COSTA

Costa Crociere appoints Mario Martini, President of Iberocruceros and Fabrizia Greppi, VP of Corporate Marketing and Communication

Mario Martini

Fabrizia Greppi

Costa Crociere has announced new executive appointments for two of its brands - Iberocruceros and Costa Cruises. Mario Martini was named president of Iberocruceros and Fabrizia Greppi was named vice president of corporate marketing and communications for Costa Cruises. Martini most recently held the role of senior vice president of sales for Europe and new markets for Costa Cruises. Greppi is a political science graduate and also has a masters in corporate communication. She joined Costa Cruises in 2001 after ten years of leading business communication companies where she was in charge of marketing and corporate communication activities for major Italian and international consumer brands. Continue reading for more information. [Full text and pictures]

SINGAPORE AIR SPECIAL FARES

Singapore Airlines celebrates increase in daily non-stop all-business service with special fares starting from $6,543, from six major cities across Canada

In celebration of an increase to daily operations of its exclusive all-business class non-stop flights from Newark and Los Angeles, Singapore Airlines is pleased to announce a $6,543 promotional value on flights from Toronto via Newark, and $6,613 from Vancouver via Los Angeles. Fares from other major Canadian cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec and Montreal are also available. These special fares are available on a limited number of seats exclusively on Singapore Airlines' non-stop flights departing Newark (SQ21) and Los Angeles (SQ37). The deal is restricted to departures on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, for a limited time only, based on availability. [Full text and pictures]

AIR ONLY FROM ALBATOURS NOW AVAILABLE

ALBATours' 2009 Italy air only program now available to book; runs from May to October 2009

Lamezia

ALBATours' 2009 Italy air only program is now on sale and will operate from May to October 2009. Featuring flights out of Toronto to Rome (4 flights/week), Venice (3 flights/week), Pescara (1 flight/week) and Lamezia (1 flight/week), ALBATours is also offering Early Booking Bonuses when your client books by Jan. 6, 2009. Save $600 per couple when booking economy class and $200 per couple when booking Premier class. Currently starting from $449 roundtrip to Rome or Venice, all flights are operated on Skyservice's Airbus A330. [Full text and pictures]

ADVENTURESINCORPORATED AFRICA SALE

ADVENTURESIncorporated offers 25% off African Winter Sun special on all overland trips

ADVENTURESIncorporated, in conjunction with their African adventure partner Acacia, is offering 25 per cent off all overland trips. "Overlanding is still the best way to see a country" stated Don Forster, Product Manager. "You see areas most people fly over; enjoy the flexibility of independent travel with group security and buying power; plus you visit local markets and other off-the-beaten-track sites rarely seen by other tourists." An example of some of the overland tours available include the Gorilla Encounter, a 14-day tour from Nairobi starting from $1,145 and the Desert Tracker, a 19- to 25-day journey priced from $1,495. [Full text and pictures]

FAIRMONT AGENT OFFER

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts announces free room and cash back for FAmous Agent Rewards program

Fairmont Le Ch�teau Frontenac

Fairmont FAmous, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' travel agent education and recognition program, has announced several agent offers. Available for new bookings now through the end of the year, agents can take advantage of rewards including, a $20 incentive for each room night booked at The Fairmont Orchid, free room nights in Bermuda and Quebec, and bonus FAmous points. When agents book guests into The Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii, they can earning $20 for each room night reserved and actualized. Agents may also redeem 25 FAmous points for an American Express prepaid card worth $25, a $25 Visa or a Fairmont gift card now through December 31, 2008. Continue reading for more FAmous agent reward offers. [Full text and pictures]

EUROP AUTO WINNING DUO

Victor Marchand

Europ Auto Vacances announces winner of 2008 Peugeot Eurolease contest
Victor Marchand won a 17-day package by Europ Auto Vacances. He won the Winning Duo 2008 contest and became eligible to win the contest after booking Peugeot Eurolease car rental packages for his clients. "We took possession of the vehicle on July 10 at Toulouse and drove 2,000 kilometres," Marchand said. "During our journey, we were thrilled by the comfort and the road grip of our Peugeot." He also commented favourably on the car's low fuel consumption.

OMAR FORMS IN CARIBBEAN

Tropical Storm Omar forms in eastern Caribbean, storm watch for Puerto Rico, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, eastern Dominican Republic
Canadian Press

Tropical storm Omar has formed in the eastern Caribbean as the 15th named storm of the Atlantic season. Forecasters say Omar formed Tuesday in the eastern Caribbean to the south of Puerto Rico and is expected to gradually strengthen over the next 48 hours. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the far eastern portion of the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Omar currently has maximum sustained winds near 65 kilometres an hour. At late morning Tuesday it was centred 570 kilometres southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moving east-southeast near three km/h. It was expected to turn gradually to the east and then northeast later Tuesday.

QANTAS INCIDENT

Faulty computer sensor blamed for midair plunges by Qantas airliner
Canadian Press

An Australian investigator says a faulty computer likely caused a Qantas jetliner to experience two midair plunges within minutes last week. More than 40 people were injured last Tuesday when the Airbus A330-300 briefly nose-dived twice during a flight from Singapore to the western Australian city of Perth. Julian Walsh, chief air investigator at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, says an initial investigation indicates the fault was with a computer unit that uses sensors to detect the angle of the plane against the airstream. He said one of the plane's three such units malfunctioned and sent the wrong data to the main flight computers. [Full text and pictures]